Renewable hydrogen: big picture thinking

QUANTUM LEAPS FOR RENEWABLE HYDROGEN

Here we check in on some of the many recent and major advances in what’s been described as ‘the fuel of the future, the energy source that could bring the world to net zero emissions’.

FIRST TO GLADSTONE in central Queensland where a major partnership between Fortescue Future Industries with manufacturing company Incitec Pivot with backing from the Queensland government to produce green ammonia on an industrial scale will establish central Queensland as home to the world’s largest hydrogen manufacturing facility.

The first stage of the six-step $1 billion project is to build the hydrogen electrolysers facility costing about $115 million. The generation of renewable hydrogen (from electrolysers powered by solar or wind yet to be announced) will then be turned into green ammonia, with “zero-pollution” says FFI’s Andrew Forrest, and generate thousands of jobs into the future.

The Gladstone plant is forecast to double renewable hydrogen production capacity across the globe, earning the state the status of a renewable energy superpower.

Andrew Forrest commented on his pride in pioneering a Green Energy Manufacturing Centre, highlighting that “manufacturing will come roaring back to regional Australia, creating many thousands of jobs.

“This initiative is a critical step in Fortescue’s transition from a highly successful pure play iron ore producer to an even more successful green renewables and resources powerhouse.”

FFI and Incitec Pivot have also committed to a joint feasibility study into a renewable hydrogen and green ammonia production and export facility at Gibson Island in Brisbane to assess whether industrial-scale manufacturing of green ammonia at the facility (which currently produces more than 300,000 tonnes of ammonia annually) is technically and commercially feasible.

Back to Gladstone and publicly owned renewable energy generator CleanCo has signed an agreement to join Sumitomo Corporation and its partners in the development of a hydrogen industry.

Consortium partners include Gladstone Ports Corporation, Gladstone Regional Council, CQUniversity Australia and Australian Gas Infrastructure Group.

Meanwhile ARENA is pumping $2.17 million into the $10.5 million study of a large-scale hydrogen electrolyser and liquefaction facility in Gladstone.

Energy infrastructure business APA Group will join Stanwell and Japanese companies Iwatani Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kansai Electric Power Company and Marubeni to commence a detailed feasibility study into the development of the large-scale renewable hydrogen project.

Artist’s impression of FFI’s green energy hydrogen manufacturing facility at Gladstone in Central Queensland

The project would initially aim to produce up to 36,500 t/y of clean hydrogen for large industrial customers in Central Queensland thus reducing emissions, and destined for export to Japan from 2026 before scaling up almost tenfold to 328,500 t/y in 2031 to meet forecast Japanese demand.

Importantly, the project will create more than 5,000 new jobs and $4.2 billion in hydrogen exports.

Kogan Creek project

Within 24 months renewable hydrogen will be produced at the proposed state government demonstration facility near Chinchilla slated to produce 50,000kg of renewable hydrogen annually.

The plant will sit adjacent to the Kogan Creek Power Station and include the co-location of a solar farm, battery, hydrogen electrolyser and hydrogen fuel cell. Construction is expected to commence in 2022 with commissioning in early 2023, from when hydrogen will be sold into the domestic market and the plant’s battery used to provide grid stability services.

All falling into place

Queensland Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said “Agreements with Fortescue Future Industries to manufacture electrolysers in Gladstone combined with projects underway in on the Western Downs, a feasibility study into manufacturing renewable ammonia in Brisbane and our continued support for hydrogen in Townsville and other regional centres, is further proof of Queensland’s hydrogen superiority.

“This is the start of the green industrial revolution and these announcements prove that Queensland has what it takes to be a global leader in renewable energy and hydrogen.”

In mid-October the Queensland government signed an MOI that could result in hydrogen exports to Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam,